Custom mobile telecommunication device configuration management

ABSTRACT

A method of managing a custom configuration manifest, comprising: collecting by an application configuration selections about a user equipment (UE) that are dynamically configured to create the custom configuration manifest; processing by a server the configuration selections and dynamically configuring the configuration selections to create the manifest; transmitting by the server the manifest to both the UE and a database with a plurality of custom configuration manifests; receiving by a custom configuration manifest handling application authorization through one or more authorization options, but not authentication credentials, to allow the manifest handling application to install preferred applications on the UE; installing by the manifest handling application the preferred applications on the UE without providing the authentication credentials; and customizing by the manifest handling application the UE based on the manifest.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority as a continuation application to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/837,940 filed on Aug. 27, 2015, entitled“Custom Mobile Telecommunications Device Configuration Management,” byBrent A. Clay, et al., which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety for all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

Mobile phones may be purchased at service provider retail stores,electronics retail stores, and/or at general retail stores. Certainpre-selected, or pre-installed, applications are present on mobilephones before a customer purchases a mobile phone. These pre-installedapplications may include a dialer, a messenger, a browser, and/or anyother applications desired by the mobile phone provider. Afterpurchasing a mobile phone, a customer may want to download or installother user-selected applications onto the mobile phone. When a customerpurchases a mobile phone, generally the mobile phone must be configured,either activated or provisioned, to function on a network. The customermay download or install user-selected applications during the activationprocess. Another way a customer may acquire a mobile phone is through alease agreement, rather than purchasing the mobile phone outright. Acustomer may pay a monthly fee to the mobile phone provider in order toretain and have access to a network connection.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a method of managing a custom configuration manifestis disclosed. The method comprises: (1) collecting by an applicationconfiguration selections about a user equipment (UE), where theconfiguration selections are transmitted to a custom configurationmanifest server; (2) processing by the custom configuration manifestserver the configuration selections, where the custom configurationmanifest server dynamically configures the configuration selections tocreate the custom configuration manifest; (3) transmitting by the customconfiguration manifest server the custom configuration manifest to oneof the UE or a database with a plurality of custom configurationmanifests; (4) transmitting by the custom configuration manifest serverthe custom configuration manifest to the other of the UE or the databasewith the plurality of custom configuration manifests; (5) receiving by acustom configuration manifest handling application authorization toallow the custom configuration manifest handling application to installpreferred applications on the UE, where the authorization is received bythe custom configuration manifest handling application through one ormore authorization options, which do not include authenticationcredentials; (6) installing by the custom configuration manifesthandling application the preferred applications on the UE withoutproviding the authentication credentials; and (7) customizing by thecustom configuration manifest handling application the UE based on thecustom configuration manifest.

In an embodiment, a user equipment (UE) is disclosed. The UE comprisesat least one processor and a non-transitory memory. The UE alsocomprises a custom configuration manifest handling application stored inthe non-transitory memory that, when executed by the processor: (1)pulls down a custom configuration manifest during device activation,where the custom configuration manifest is pulled down from a customconfiguration manifest server; and (2) configures the UE based on thecustom configuration manifest. The UE also comprises a lease enforcementapplication stored in the non-transitory memory that, when executed bythe processor: (1) monitors a lease satisfaction status by checking thecustom configuration manifest server; and (2) responds to determinationsof lease non-compliance by restricting functionality of the UE.

In an embodiment, a user equipment (UE) is disclosed. The UE comprisesat least one processor, a non-transitory memory, and a customconfiguration manifest handling application stored in the non-transitorymemory that, when executed by the processor: (1) retrieves a firstcustom configuration manifest during device activation, where the firstcustom configuration manifest identifies a first access point name; (2)configures the UE based on the first custom configuration manifest,where the first custom configuration manifest installs preferredapplications on the UE without providing authentication credentials; (3)receives a message to retrieve a second custom configuration manifest,where the second custom configuration manifest identifies a secondaccess point name, where the second access point name is different thanthe first access point name; and (4) reconfigures the UE to use thesecond access point name.

These and other features will be more clearly understood from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, referenceis now made to the following brief description, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein likereference numerals represent like parts.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a user equipment (UE) according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a UE according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 5A is a block diagram of a software architecture for a UE accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a block diagram of a software architecture for a UE accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a computer system according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be understood at the outset that although illustrativeimplementations of one or more embodiments are illustrated below, thedisclosed systems and methods may be implemented using any number oftechniques, whether currently known or not yet in existence. Thedisclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrativeimplementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, but may bemodified within the scope of the appended claims along with their fullscope of equivalents.

The present disclosure teaches a method and systems for increasing thespeed of completing a sale and completing an activation process for auser equipment (UE) (e.g., a smart phone). At least in part thisimprovement is realized by streamlining the configuration of userchoices by collecting configuration selections about a UE made by a userin discussions with a sales representative. The method further comprisesprocessing and dynamically configuring the configuration selections tocreate the custom configuration manifest, transmitting the customconfiguration manifest to the UE, receiving authorization to installpreferred applications on the UE without providing authenticationcredentials, and customizing the UE based on the custom configurationmanifest and/or based on a subscription plan and the configurationselections. The custom configuration manifest may be considered to be akind of “punch-out list,” a procedure list, and/or actual executableinstructions for configuring the UE and/or customizing the look and feelof the UE. As discussed further hereinafter, a custom configurationmanifest handling application may execute on a processor of the UE andperform the configuring and/or customizing of the UE based on the customconfiguration manifest. It is widely recognized that the customary UEsales and activation processes are undesirably time consuming: theteachings of the present disclosure provide an opportunity to improvethe customer experience of buying a new UE.

The process may further involve the installation of preferredapplications on the UE that formerly entailed presenting confidentialuser credentials to gain permissions. The present disclosure teachesoperating the UE in a mode that renders presentation of such usercredentials unnecessary, thereby easing the process of configuring thepreferred applications on the UE, for example applications that providesupplementary user convenience features based on a user subscriptionplan. This can avoid customer irritation and/or concerns about sharingconfidential access keys, can increase the adoption rate for preferredapplications, and can speed the activation process.

Further, problems may arise with leased UEs. The problems may includecustomers not making payments in accordance with terms of a lease butcontinuing to use the UE, customers not understanding that the UE isunder a lease, and customers not returning leased UEs to thecommunication service provider when the lease expires. The presentdisclosure teaches a method and systems for managing leased UEs by usingan application installed on the UEs to remind customers of any overduepayments or to prevent customers from using the UEs until any overduepayments are made. Additionally, the application may send a userinterface to the UE, where the user interface may comprise a screen thatrestricts access to some functions of the UE. For example, access togeneral voice call service, access to email service, access to acontacts list, access to a browser application, access to a WiFi and/orBluetooth® communication application, access to a media playerapplication, access to a camera application may be blocked or preventedby the restricted user interface. Access to place and receive emergencycalls (e.g., E-911 calls) would be supported in the restrictedinterface. Additionally, the ability to place a call to a wirelesscommunication service provider to complete a payment on account or tootherwise resolve the status issues with the lease of the UE maylikewise be supported in the restricted interface.

In addition, UEs that are no longer provisioned to receive communicationservice from a network provided by the communication service providercan undesirably waste wireless resources by repeatedly attempting toattach to the radio access network (RAN). These unprovisioned devicescan slow the access time experienced by provisioned devices. The presentdisclosure teaches a method and systems for managing such unprovisionedUEs by redirecting their connection attempts to a different networkaddress and then stopping the connection attempts and/or requests by theunconnected UEs to the network.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a system 100 is described. In an embodiment, thesystem 100 may comprise user equipment (UE) 102, a network 104, anenhanced Node B (eNB) 106 or a base transceiver station (BTS), a customconfiguration manifest server 108, a custom configuration manifestdatabase 110, a first access point name server 112, a second accesspoint name server 114, a mobile sales assistant (MSA) application 116, acustom configuration manifest handling application 118, and a leaseenforcement application 120.

The UE 102 is a mobile telecommunication device. The customconfiguration manifest handling application 118 executes on the UE 102.In some embodiments, the UE 102 may be a mobile smart phone, a mediaplayer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a headset computer, awearable computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, or a tabletcomputer. In an embodiment, a customer may purchase a UE 102 from aretail store. At the retail store, a sales representative may talk withthe customer about any desired options that the customer may want toinclude in the UE 102. The desired options may comprise any applicationsthat the customer may want installed on the UE 102, any aestheticfeatures that the customer may want installed on the UE 102, preferredapplications that the communication service provider desires to beinstalled on the UE 102, or any other options in accordance with thedisclosure. The sales representative may enter the desired options intoa notebook or workstation that may include the MSA application 116.Alternatively, the MSA application 116 may be on a different device thanthe notebook or workstation. The MSA application 116 may record thedesired options. The sales representative may enter the desired optionsinto the notebook or workstation as the customer expresses the desiredoptions, or the sales representative may enter the desired options intothe notebook or workstation after the customer has expressed all of thedesired options.

In an embodiment, as the desired options are recorded by the MSAapplication 116, the desired options may be dynamically transmitted tothe custom configuration manifest server 108. Alternatively, the desiredoptions may be transmitted to the custom configuration manifest server108 at one time after all of the desired options have been recorded bythe MSA application 116. In an embodiment, the desired options may betransmitted to the custom configuration manifest server 108 through thenetwork 104 or by any other means of transmission in accordance with thedisclosure. In an embodiment, the custom configuration manifest server108 may dynamically process the desired options and configure a customconfiguration manifest as the custom configuration manifest server 108receives the desired options. Alternatively, the custom configurationmanifest server 108 may begin to process the desired options andconfigure the custom configuration manifest after the customconfiguration manifest server 108 has received all of the desiredoptions.

After the custom configuration manifest server 108 has configured thecustom configuration manifest, the custom configuration manifest server108 may transmit the custom configuration manifest to the UE 102. Thecustom configuration manifest server 108 may transmit the customconfiguration manifest to the UE 102 through the network 104, throughthe eNB 106, by sending a short message service (SMS) to the UE 102 thatprompts the UE 102 to retrieve the custom configuration manifest fromthe custom configuration manifest server 108, or by any other means inaccordance with the disclosure. In an embodiment, after the customconfiguration manifest has been transmitted from the customconfiguration manifest server 108 to the UE 102, the customconfiguration manifest handling application 118 may use the customconfiguration manifest to configure the UE 102 during an activationprocess.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a method 200 is described. At block 202, anapplication collects configuration selections about a user equipment(UE), where the configuration selections are transmitted to a customconfiguration manifest server. For example, the MSA application 116 maytransmit information regarding the configuration selections to thecustom configuration manifest server 108. In an embodiment, a salesrepresentative at a retail store helping a user, or a customer, mayrecord the configuration selections by entering the configurationselections into a notebook or a workstation that contains the MSAapplication 116, writing down the configuration selections, or recordingthe configuration selections in any other way in accordance with thedisclosure. In another embodiment, the sales representative or thecustomer may enter the configuration selections into an electronicdevice with an automated system and/or the MSA application 116 thatrecords the configuration selections.

In an embodiment, the configuration selections may include anyapplications that the customer wants installed on the UE 102. Theseapplications may include an electronic mail application, a messagingapplication, a social media application, and any other application inaccordance with the disclosure. The configuration selections may alsoinclude any aesthetic features associated with the UE 102. Theseaesthetic features may include a home screen background, a screen saver,a lock screen background, an arrangement of applications on a screen ofthe UE 102, and any other aesthetic feature in accordance with thedisclosure.

The MSA application 116 may connect with the UE 102 through the network104 between a device containing the MSA application 116 and the UE 102,through the network 104 between the device containing the MSAapplication 116 and the eNB 106, a wired connection between the devicecontaining the MSA application 116 and the UE 102, a Wi-Fi connectionbetween the device containing the MSA application 116 and the UE 102, aBluetooth® connection between the device containing the MSA application116 and the UE 102, any combination thereof, and/or any other means ofconnection in accordance with the disclosure.

At block 203, the custom configuration manifest server processes theconfiguration selections, where the custom configuration manifest serverdynamically configures the configuration selections to create the customconfiguration manifest. For example, the custom configuration manifestserver 108 may dynamically process the configuration selections andconfigure a custom configuration manifest as the custom configurationmanifest server 108 receives the configuration selections.Alternatively, the custom configuration manifest server 108 may begin toprocess the configuration selections and configure the customconfiguration manifest after the custom configuration manifest server108 has received all of the configuration selections.

At block 204, the custom configuration manifest server transmits thecustom configuration manifest to one of the UE or a database with aplurality of custom configuration manifests.

At block 206, the custom configuration manifest server transmits thecustom configuration manifest to the other of the UE or the databasewith the plurality of custom configuration manifests. For example, thecustom configuration manifest server 108 may first transmit the customconfiguration manifest to the UE 102 and then transmit the customconfiguration manifest to the custom configuration manifest database110. Alternatively, the custom configuration manifest server 108 mayfirst transmit the custom configuration manifest to the customconfiguration manifest database 110 and then transmit the customconfiguration manifest to the UE 102. The custom configuration manifestserver 108 may also transmit the custom configuration manifest to boththe custom configuration manifest database 110 and the UE 102simultaneously. In an embodiment, the custom configuration manifestserver 108 may transmit the custom configuration manifest through thenetwork 104 to the UE 102 and the custom configuration manifest database110. In another embodiment, the custom configuration manifest server 108may transmit the custom configuration manifest to the customconfiguration manifest database 110, and then the custom configurationmanifest database 110 may transmit the custom configuration manifestthrough the network 104 to the UE 102. In another embodiment, the customconfiguration manifest server 108 may transmit the custom configurationmanifest to the eNB 106, and then the eNB 106 may transmit the customconfiguration manifest to the UE 102. In a further embodiment, thecustom configuration manifest server 108 may send a SMS to the UE 102that may prompt the UE 102 to retrieve the custom configuration manifestfrom the custom configuration manifest server 108. Any other means oftransmission in accordance with the disclosure may also occur.

At block 208, a custom configuration manifest handling applicationreceives authorization to allow the custom configuration manifesthandling application to install preferred applications on the UE, wherethe authorization was received by the custom configuration manifesthandling application through one or more authorization options, which donot include authentication credentials. For example, the authorizationoptions may include, in combination or alone, a request toelectronically sign a notice authorizing the custom configurationmanifest handling application 118 to install the preferred applications(the notice may be on a sales representative's notebook, workstation, orany other item in accordance with the disclosure), an audio recordingauthorizing the custom configuration manifest handling application 118to install the preferred applications, a user interface on the UE 102that prompts “yes” or “no” when asked if the custom configurationmanifest handling application 118 is authorized to install the preferredapplications, and/or any other option in accordance with the disclosure.

In an embodiment, the custom configuration manifest server 108 may pushnotifications to the custom configuration manifest handling application118 once the custom configuration manifest is installed on the UE 102.The pushed notifications may notify or instruct the custom configurationmanifest handling application 118 to check the custom configurationmanifest server 108 for any applications, updates, or anything else thatmay need to be installed or be desired to be installed on the UE 102during the activation process. The custom configuration manifesthandling application 118 may then pull the applications, updates, orother items from the custom configuration manifest server 108 andinstall them on the UE 102. In a preferred embodiment, the customconfiguration manifest server 108 may push a notification to the customconfiguration manifest handling application 118 to pull down from thecustom configuration manifest server 108 and install on the UE 102 thepreferred applications.

In an embodiment, the preferred applications may comprise anyapplication that the communication service provider desires to beinstalled on the UE 102. In a preferred embodiment, one of the preferredapplications may be a communication service provider custom outreach andconcierge function application. The communication service providercustom outreach and concierge function application may include aplurality of applications, or the communication service provider customoutreach and concierge function application may include one application.Some of the applications that may be included in the communicationservice provider custom outreach and concierge function application mayallow a customer to manage his or her account, view and pay bills, checkupgrade eligibility, view and report network performance, convenientlycall customer service, shop an application store supported by thecommunication service provider, get device tips and support, find astore and schedule a visit, set account limits and permissions, get thelatest news and product or service offers, and any other ability inaccordance with the disclosure.

At block 210, the custom configuration manifest handling applicationinstalls the preferred applications on the UE without providing theauthentication credentials. For example, the authentication credentialsmay include a password to unlock the UE 102, a PIN to unlock the UE 102,a pattern to unlock the UE 102, or any other information in accordancewith the disclosure that may grant access to the UE 102 that isgenerally kept private. In an embodiment, the PIN or otherauthentication credentials may be maintained by the communicationservice provider.

At block 212, the custom configuration manifest handling applicationcustomizes the UE based on the custom configuration manifest. In anembodiment, the custom configuration manifest handling applicationcustomizes the UE based further on a subscription plan and theconfiguration selections. For example, the custom configuration manifesthandling application 118 may take into account a subscription plan andthe configuration selections to determine preferred applications thatshould be installed on the UE 102 to maximize the performance of the UE102 and to fulfill any details or options included in the subscriptionplan and the configuration selections. In an embodiment, the customconfiguration manifest handling application 118 may have a feature thatcauses the custom configuration manifest handling application 118 toremove itself and/or the custom configuration manifest from the UE 102after the UE has been customized. Alternatively, that feature may beincluded in the custom configuration manifest. This may result in the UE102 no longer having a custom configuration manifest handlingapplication 118 and/or a custom configuration manifest after the initialset up and activation of the UE 102 and resulting installation of anypreferred applications that the custom configuration manifest handlingapplication 118 may have installed on the UE 102.

In an embodiment, the custom configuration manifest handling application118 may be transmitted to a UE 102 that may be leased from thecommunication service provider. When a UE 102 is leased, a fee to thecommunication service provider may be paid every month, every othermonth, every three months, or at any other set time period in accordancewith the disclosure. The fee may allow the UE 102 to access a network104 provided by the communication service provider. When a UE 102 isleased, the custom configuration manifest handling application 118and/or the custom configuration manifest may remain on the UE 102 afterthe UE 102 is activated (i.e., the custom configuration manifesthandling application 118 and/or the custom configuration manifest maynot have a feature that causes the custom configuration manifesthandling application 118 and/or the custom configuration manifest toremove itself from the UE 102 after the UE has been customized). Thecustom configuration manifest may be managed on the UE 102 by a leaseenforcement application 120. In an embodiment, the lease enforcementapplication 120 may not be able to be deleted, removed, blocked, orhindered in any other way in accordance with the disclosure.

The lease enforcement application 120 may be controlled by thecommunication service provider. The lease enforcement application 120may monitor a condition of a lease. The lease enforcement application120 may periodically or continuously communicate back to thecommunication service provider to check on a status of the lease and/ora status of a bill. In an embodiment, the lease enforcement application120 may communicate back to the communication service provider weekly,monthly, the day before each billing cycle ends, the day after eachbilling cycle ends, or at any other time period in accordance with thedisclosure. In an embodiment, the lease enforcement application 120 maymonitor whether the communication service provider has been paidaccording to a chosen payment schedule as dictated by terms of thelease, whether an amount of data has been used that may be limited bythe terms of the lease, whether an amount of text messages has been sentor received that may be limited by the terms of the lease, whether phonecalls have been made for an amount of minutes that may be limited by theterms of the lease, or whether any other terms of the lease inaccordance with the disclosure have been satisfied.

If the lease enforcement application 120 determines that the terms ofthe lease have not been satisfied, then the lease enforcementapplication 120 may take action to create a notification indicatingnon-compliance with the lease. In an embodiment, the lease enforcementapplication 120 may lock the screen of the UE 102, change the passwordof the UE 102, disable calling, texting, and/or data service of the UE102, send a message through a user interface to the UE 102 stating thatthe lease has not been satisfied and requiring the terms of the lease tobe satisfied (e.g., make a payment that may be overdue), send a userinterface to the UE 102 that may allow financial information to beentered and any overdue payments to be paid, or any other action inaccordance with the disclosure.

In an embodiment, the custom configuration manifest may be used toimplement parental controls on the UE 102. The parental controls mayinclude restricting text messaging access during certain periods of theday (e.g., when a child is at school), restricting access toapplications that may have an undesired rating (e.g., as non-limitingexamples, 9+, 12+, and 17+), restricting phone numbers that may becalled, and any other restriction in accordance with the disclosure.When a UE 102 is leased, the custom configuration manifest may still beinstalled on the UE 102 after device activation has been completed, andthis may give parents more ability to enforce parental controls and moreoptions for parental controls. The communication service provider mayallow parents to have access to remote management controls, which may becontrolled by the custom configuration manifest. If the customconfiguration manifest is not on the UE 102, there may not be anyability to use the remote management controls. Without the remotemanagement controls kids may be able to change passwords or othersecurity features on the UE 102 and disable any parental controls thatmay be present on the UE 102. However, if the remote management controlsare available, the communication service provider or parents may be ableto have more control of the UE 102 and implement any desiredrestrictions without the kids being able to disable the restrictionsbecause the kids may not be able to change any security features withouthaving access to the remote management controls.

In an embodiment, a UE 102 may no longer be provisioned to receivewireless communication service from the network 104. This type of UE 102may be described as an unconnected UE. The unconnected UE may no longerbe provisioned to receive wireless communication service from thenetwork 104 because a contract or lease expired, a data plan expired,lease payments stopped being paid, or for any other reason in accordancewith the disclosure. The unconnected UE may still be able to functionwith a Wi-Fi connection or for functions that may not need wirelesscommunication service from the network 104. A problem with anunconnected UE, though, is that the unconnected UE may still attempt togain access to the network 104 by sending requests to a first accesspoint name server 112 or attempting to connect to the network 104 in anyother manner in accordance with the disclosure. There may be hundreds,thousands, millions, or any other amount of unconnected UEs inaccordance with the disclosure. In an embodiment, the unconnected UEsmay attempt to connect to the network 104 through the first access pointname server 112 thousands of times every second. However, the frequencywith which the unconnected UEs attempt to connect to the network 104 mayvary by any amount in accordance with the disclosure.

The connection attempts by the unconnected UEs may cause the network 104and/or the first access point name server 112 to have a larger thanusual amount of traffic, which may cause the network 104 and/or thefirst access point name server 112 to slow down, process connectionattempts for connected UEs in an untimely manner, lose connection forsome UEs, drop calls, or have any other reaction to the increased numberof connection attempts in accordance with the disclosure. In anembodiment, a second access point name server 114 may be used todecrease the traffic on the first access point name server 112.

In an embodiment, the custom configuration manifest handling application118 may still be installed on the UE 102 even when the UE 102 is nolonger provisioned to receive wireless communication service from thenetwork 104. The custom configuration manifest handling application 118may still communicate with and/or handle a first custom configurationmanifest (i.e., the custom configuration manifest that may have beeninstalled on the UE 102 during activation of the UE 102). When the UE102 is no longer provisioned to receive wireless communication servicefrom the network 104, which may occur for any of the reasons discussedabove, the custom configuration manifest server 108 may transmit asignal to the custom configuration manifest handling application 118.This signal may instruct the custom configuration manifest handlingapplication 118 to pull down a second custom configuration manifest fromthe custom configuration manifest server 108. This second customconfiguration manifest may identify the second access point name server114. This may be done through a user interface on the unconnected UEthat provides a link to a website where a configuration manifest (e.g.,the second custom configuration manifest) may be installed that maycause the unconnected UE to send its connection attempts to the secondaccess point name server 114. However, the second custom configurationmanifest may identify the second access point name server 114 in anyother manner in accordance with the disclosure. In an embodiment, thesecond access point name server 114 may be different than the firstaccess point name server 112.

In an embodiment, once the unconnected UE sends a connection attempt tothe second access point name server 114, the second access point nameserver 114 may cause the unconnected UE to think that the unconnected UEis provisioned to receive wireless communication service from thenetwork 104. By tricking the unconnected UE into thinking it isprovisioned to receive wireless communication service from the network104, the second access point name server 114 may cause the unconnectedUE to stop sending connection attempts to the first access point nameserver 112 and/or the second access point name server 114. In apreferred embodiment, the second access point name server 114 may reducetraffic on the network 104 and/or the first access point name server 112by causing connection attempts by unconnected UEs to not occur on thefirst access point name server 112.

FIG. 3 depicts the UE 400, which is operable for implementing aspects ofthe present disclosure, but the present disclosure should not be limitedto these implementations. Though illustrated as a mobile phone, the UE400 may take various forms including a wireless handset, a pager, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a gaming device, or a media player.The UE 400 includes a touchscreen display 402 having a touch-sensitivesurface for input by a user. A small number of application icons 404 areillustrated within the touch screen display 402. It is understood thatin different embodiments, any number of application icons 404 may bepresented in the touch screen display 402. In some embodiments of the UE400, a user may be able to download and install additional applicationson the UE 400, and an icon associated with such downloaded and installedapplications may be added to the touch screen display 402 or to analternative screen. The UE 400 may have other components such aselectro-mechanical switches, speakers, camera lenses, microphones, inputand/or output connectors, and other components as are well known in theart. The UE 400 may present options for the user to select, controls forthe user to actuate, and/or cursors or other indicators for the user todirect. The UE 400 may further accept data entry from the user,including numbers to dial or various parameter values for configuringthe operation of the handset. The UE 400 may further execute one or moresoftware or firmware applications in response to user commands. Theseapplications may configure the UE 400 to perform various customizedfunctions in response to user interaction. Additionally, the UE 400 maybe programmed and/or configured over-the-air, for example from awireless base station, a wireless access point, or a peer UE 400. The UE400 may execute a web browser application which enables the touch screendisplay 402 to show a web page. The web page may be obtained viawireless communications with a base transceiver station, a wirelessnetwork access node, a peer UE 400, or any other wireless communicationnetwork or system.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the UE 400. While a variety of knowncomponents of handsets are depicted, in an embodiment a subset of thelisted components and/or additional components not listed may beincluded in the UE 400. The UE 400 includes a digital signal processor(DSP) 502 and a memory 504. As shown, the UE 400 may further include anantenna and front end unit 506, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver 508,a baseband processing unit 510, a microphone 512, an earpiece speaker514, a headset port 516, an input/output interface 518, a removablememory card 520, a universal serial bus (USB) port 522, an infrared port524, a vibrator 526, one or more electro-mechanical switches 528, atouch screen liquid crystal display (LCD) with a touch screen display530, a touch screen/LCD controller 532, a camera 534, a cameracontroller 536, and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver 538. Inan embodiment, the UE 400 may include another kind of display that doesnot provide a touch sensitive screen. In an embodiment, the UE 400 mayinclude both the touch screen display 530 and additional displaycomponent that does not provide a touch sensitive screen. In anembodiment, the DSP 502 may communicate directly with the memory 504without passing through the input/output interface 518. Additionally, inan embodiment, the UE 400 may comprise other peripheral devices thatprovide other functionality.

The DSP 502 or some other form of controller or central processing unitoperates to control the various components of the UE 400 in accordancewith embedded software or firmware stored in memory 504 or stored inmemory contained within the DSP 502 itself. In addition to the embeddedsoftware or firmware, the DSP 502 may execute other applications storedin the memory 504 or made available via information carrier media suchas portable data storage media like the removable memory card 520 or viawired or wireless network communications. The application software maycomprise a compiled set of machine-readable instructions that configurethe DSP 502 to provide the desired functionality, or the applicationsoftware may be high-level software instructions to be processed by aninterpreter or compiler to indirectly configure the DSP 502.

The DSP 502 may communicate with a wireless network via the analogbaseband processing unit 510. In some embodiments, the communication mayprovide Internet connectivity, enabling a user to gain access to contenton the Internet and to send and receive e-mail or text messages. Theinput/output interface 518 interconnects the DSP 502 and variousmemories and interfaces. The memory 504 and the removable memory card520 may provide software and data to configure the operation of the DSP502. Among the interfaces may be the USB port 522 and the infrared port524. The USB port 522 may enable the UE 400 to function as a peripheraldevice to exchange information with a personal computer or othercomputer system. The infrared port 524 and other optional ports such asa Bluetooth interface or an IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless interface mayenable the UE 400 to communicate wirelessly with other nearby handsetsand/or wireless base stations. In an embodiment, the UE 400 may comprisea near field communication (NFC) transceiver. The NFC transceiver may beused to complete payment transactions with point-of-sale terminals orother communications exchanges. In an embodiment, the UE 400 maycomprise a radio frequency identify (RFID) reader and/or writer device.

The switches 528 may couple to the DSP 502 via the input/outputinterface 518 to provide one mechanism for the user to provide input tothe UE 400. Alternatively, one or more of the switches 528 may becoupled to a motherboard of the UE 400 and/or to components of the UE400 via a different path (e.g., not via the input/output interface 518),for example coupled to a power control circuit (power button) of the UE400. The touch screen display 530 is another input mechanism, whichfurther displays text and/or graphics to the user. The touch screen LCDcontroller 532 couples the DSP 502 to the touch screen display 530. TheGPS receiver 538 is coupled to the DSP 502 to decode global positioningsystem signals, thereby enabling the UE 400 to determine its position.

FIG. 5A illustrates a software environment 602 that may be implementedby the DSP 502. The DSP 502 executes operating system software 604 thatprovides a platform from which the rest of the software operates. Theoperating system software 604 may provide a variety of drivers for thehandset hardware with standardized interfaces that are accessible toapplication software. The operating system software 604 may be coupledto and interact with application management services (AMS) 606 thattransfer control between applications running on the UE 400. Also shownin FIG. 5A are a web browser application 608, a media player application610, and JAVA applets 612. The web browser application 608 may beexecuted by the UE 400 to browse content and/or the Internet, forexample when the UE 400 is coupled to a network via a wireless link. Theweb browser application 608 may permit a user to enter information intoforms and select links to retrieve and view web pages. The media playerapplication 610 may be executed by the UE 400 to play audio oraudiovisual media. The JAVA applets 612 may be executed by the UE 400 toprovide a variety of functionality including games, utilities, and otherfunctionality.

FIG. 5B illustrates an alternative software environment 620 that may beimplemented by the DSP 502. The DSP 502 executes operating system kernel(OS kernel) 628 and an execution runtime 630. The DSP 502 executesapplications 622 that may execute in the execution runtime 630 and mayrely upon services provided by the application framework 624.Applications 622 and the application framework 624 may rely uponfunctionality provided via the libraries 626.

FIG. 6 illustrates a computer system 380 suitable for implementing oneor more embodiments disclosed herein. The computer system 380 includes aprocessor 382 (which may be referred to as a central processor unit orCPU) that is in communication with memory devices including secondarystorage 384, read only memory (ROM) 386, random access memory (RAM) 388,input/output (I/O) devices 390, and network connectivity devices 392.The processor 382 may be implemented as one or more CPU chips.

It is understood that by programming and/or loading executableinstructions onto the computer system 380, at least one of the CPU 382,the RAM 388, and the ROM 386 are changed, transforming the computersystem 380 in part into a particular machine or apparatus having thenovel functionality taught by the present disclosure. It is fundamentalto the electrical engineering and software engineering arts thatfunctionality that can be implemented by loading executable softwareinto a computer can be converted to a hardware implementation bywell-known design rules. Decisions between implementing a concept insoftware versus hardware typically hinge on considerations of stabilityof the design and numbers of units to be produced rather than any issuesinvolved in translating from the software domain to the hardware domain.Generally, a design that is still subject to frequent change may bepreferred to be implemented in software, because re-spinning a hardwareimplementation is more expensive than re-spinning a software design.Generally, a design that is stable that will be produced in large volumemay be preferred to be implemented in hardware, for example in anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), because for largeproduction runs the hardware implementation may be less expensive thanthe software implementation. Often a design may be developed and testedin a software form and later transformed, by well-known design rules, toan equivalent hardware implementation in an application specificintegrated circuit that hardwires the instructions of the software. Inthe same manner as a machine controlled by a new ASIC is a particularmachine or apparatus, likewise a computer that has been programmedand/or loaded with executable instructions may be viewed as a particularmachine or apparatus.

Additionally, after the system 380 is turned on or booted, the CPU 382may execute a computer program or application. For example, the CPU 382may execute software or firmware stored in the ROM 386 or stored in theRAM 388. In some cases, on boot and/or when the application isinitiated, the CPU 382 may copy the application or portions of theapplication from the secondary storage 384 to the RAM 388 or to memoryspace within the CPU 382 itself, and the CPU 382 may then executeinstructions that the application is comprised of. In some cases, theCPU 382 may copy the application or portions of the application frommemory accessed via the network connectivity devices 392 or via the I/Odevices 390 to the RAM 388 or to memory space within the CPU 382, andthe CPU 382 may then execute instructions that the application iscomprised of. During execution, an application may load instructionsinto the CPU 382, for example load some of the instructions of theapplication into a cache of the CPU 382. In some contexts, anapplication that is executed may be said to configure the CPU 382 to dosomething, e.g., to configure the CPU 382 to perform the function orfunctions promoted by the subject application. When the CPU 382 isconfigured in this way by the application, the CPU 382 becomes aspecific purpose computer or a specific purpose machine.

The secondary storage 384 is typically comprised of one or more diskdrives or tape drives and is used for non-volatile storage of data andas an over-flow data storage device if RAM 388 is not large enough tohold all working data. Secondary storage 384 may be used to storeprograms which are loaded into RAM 388 when such programs are selectedfor execution. The ROM 386 is used to store instructions and perhapsdata which are read during program execution. ROM 386 is a non-volatilememory device which typically has a small memory capacity relative tothe larger memory capacity of secondary storage 384. The RAM 388 is usedto store volatile data and perhaps to store instructions. Access to bothROM 386 and RAM 388 is typically faster than to secondary storage 384.The secondary storage 384, the RAM 388, and/or the ROM 386 may bereferred to in some contexts as computer readable storage media and/ornon-transitory computer readable media.

I/O devices 390 may include printers, video monitors, liquid crystaldisplays (LCDs), touch screen displays, keyboards, keypads, switches,dials, mice, track balls, voice recognizers, card readers, paper tapereaders, or other well-known input devices.

The network connectivity devices 392 may take the form of modems, modembanks, Ethernet cards, universal serial bus (USB) interface cards,serial interfaces, token ring cards, fiber distributed data interface(FDDI) cards, wireless local area network (WLAN) cards, radiotransceiver cards that promote radio communications using protocols suchas code division multiple access (CDMA), global system for mobilecommunications (GSM), long-term evolution (LTE), worldwideinteroperability for microwave access (WiMAX), near field communications(NFC), radio frequency identity (RFID), and/or other air interfaceprotocol radio transceiver cards, and other well-known network devices.These network connectivity devices 392 may enable the processor 382 tocommunicate with the Internet or one or more intranets. With such anetwork connection, it is contemplated that the processor 382 mightreceive information from the network, or might output information to thenetwork in the course of performing the above-described method steps.Such information, which is often represented as a sequence ofinstructions to be executed using processor 382, may be received fromand outputted to the network, for example, in the form of a computerdata signal embodied in a carrier wave.

Such information, which may include data or instructions to be executedusing processor 382 for example, may be received from and outputted tothe network, for example, in the form of a computer data baseband signalor signal embodied in a carrier wave. The baseband signal or signalembedded in the carrier wave, or other types of signals currently usedor hereafter developed, may be generated according to several methodswell-known to one skilled in the art. The baseband signal and/or signalembedded in the carrier wave may be referred to in some contexts as atransitory signal.

The processor 382 executes instructions, codes, computer programs,scripts which it accesses from hard disk, floppy disk, optical disk(these various disk based systems may all be considered secondarystorage 384), flash drive, ROM 386, RAM 388, or the network connectivitydevices 392. While only one processor 382 is shown, multiple processorsmay be present. Thus, while instructions may be discussed as executed bya processor, the instructions may be executed simultaneously, serially,or otherwise executed by one or multiple processors. Instructions,codes, computer programs, scripts, and/or data that may be accessed fromthe secondary storage 384, for example, hard drives, floppy disks,optical disks, and/or other device, the ROM 386, and/or the RAM 388 maybe referred to in some contexts as non-transitory instructions and/ornon-transitory information.

In an embodiment, the computer system 380 may comprise two or morecomputers in communication with each other that collaborate to perform atask. For example, but not by way of limitation, an application may bepartitioned in such a way as to permit concurrent and/or parallelprocessing of the instructions of the application. Alternatively, thedata processed by the application may be partitioned in such a way as topermit concurrent and/or parallel processing of different portions of adata set by the two or more computers. In an embodiment, virtualizationsoftware may be employed by the computer system 380 to provide thefunctionality of a number of servers that is not directly bound to thenumber of computers in the computer system 380. For example,virtualization software may provide twenty virtual servers on fourphysical computers. In an embodiment, the functionality disclosed abovemay be provided by executing the application and/or applications in acloud computing environment. Cloud computing may comprise providingcomputing services via a network connection using dynamically scalablecomputing resources. Cloud computing may be supported, at least in part,by virtualization software. A cloud computing environment may beestablished by an enterprise and/or may be hired on an as-needed basisfrom a third party provider. Some cloud computing environments maycomprise cloud computing resources owned and operated by the enterpriseas well as cloud computing resources hired and/or leased from a thirdparty provider.

In an embodiment, some or all of the functionality disclosed above maybe provided as a computer program product. The computer program productmay comprise one or more computer readable storage medium havingcomputer usable program code embodied therein to implement thefunctionality disclosed above. The computer program product may comprisedata structures, executable instructions, and other computer usableprogram code. The computer program product may be embodied in removablecomputer storage media and/or non-removable computer storage media. Theremovable computer readable storage medium may comprise, withoutlimitation, a paper tape, a magnetic tape, magnetic disk, an opticaldisk, a solid state memory chip, for example analog magnetic tape,compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM) disks, floppy disks, jump drives,digital cards, multimedia cards, and others. The computer programproduct may be suitable for loading, by the computer system 380, atleast portions of the contents of the computer program product to thesecondary storage 384, to the ROM 386, to the RAM 388, and/or to othernon-volatile memory and volatile memory of the computer system 380. Theprocessor 382 may process the executable instructions and/or datastructures in part by directly accessing the computer program product,for example by reading from a CD-ROM disk inserted into a disk driveperipheral of the computer system 380. Alternatively, the processor 382may process the executable instructions and/or data structures byremotely accessing the computer program product, for example bydownloading the executable instructions and/or data structures from aremote server through the network connectivity devices 392. The computerprogram product may comprise instructions that promote the loadingand/or copying of data, data structures, files, and/or executableinstructions to the secondary storage 384, to the ROM 386, to the RAM388, and/or to other non-volatile memory and volatile memory of thecomputer system 380.

In some contexts, the secondary storage 384, the ROM 386, and the RAM388 may be referred to as a non-transitory computer readable medium or acomputer readable storage media. A dynamic RAM embodiment of the RAM388, likewise, may be referred to as a non-transitory computer readablemedium in that while the dynamic RAM receives electrical power and isoperated in accordance with its design, for example during a period oftime during which the computer system 380 is turned on and operational,the dynamic RAM stores information that is written to it. Similarly, theprocessor 382 may comprise an internal RAM, an internal ROM, a cachememory, and/or other internal non-transitory storage blocks, sections,or components that may be referred to in some contexts as non-transitorycomputer readable media or computer readable storage media.

While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure,it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods may beembodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spiritor scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to beconsidered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is notto be limited to the details given herein. For example, the variouselements or components may be combined or integrated in another systemor certain features may be omitted or not implemented.

Also, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described andillustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may becombined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, ormethods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Other items shown or discussed as directly coupled or communicating witheach other may be indirectly coupled or communicating through someinterface, device, or intermediate component, whether electrically,mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes, substitutions,and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could bemade without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of managing a custom configurationmanifest, comprising: collecting, by an application stored on a deviceassociated with a sales representative at a retail store, configurationselections about a user equipment (UE), where the configurationselections are transmitted to a custom configuration manifest server;processing, by the custom configuration manifest server, theconfiguration selections, where the custom configuration manifest serverdynamically configures the configuration selections to create the customconfiguration manifest; transmitting, by the custom configurationmanifest server, the custom configuration manifest to one of the UE or adatabase with a plurality of custom configuration manifests;transmitting, by the custom configuration manifest server, the customconfiguration manifest to the other of the UE or the database with theplurality of custom configuration manifests; receiving, by a customconfiguration manifest handling application stored on the UE,authorization to allow the custom configuration manifest handlingapplication to install preferred applications on the UE, where theauthorization is received by the custom configuration manifest handlingapplication through one or more authorization options, which do notinclude authentication credentials; installing, by the customconfiguration manifest handling application, the preferred applicationson the UE without providing the authentication credentials; andcustomizing, by the custom configuration manifest handling application,the UE based on the custom configuration manifest.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein customizing the UE by the custom configuration manifesthandling application is further based on a subscription plan and theconfiguration selections.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theconfiguration selections comprise an electronic mail application, amessaging application, a social media application, a home screenbackground, a screen saver, a lock screen background, and an arrangementof applications on the UE.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the customconfiguration manifest server contains a plurality of configurationselections.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing theauthorization comprises a request to electronically sign a noticeauthorizing the custom configuration manifest handling application toinstall the preferred applications.
 6. The method of claim 5, whereinthe notice is on a sales representative's notebook or workstation. 7.The method of claim 5, wherein the preferred applications comprise acommunication service provider customer outreach and concierge functionapplication.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorizationcomprises an audio recording authorizing the custom configurationmanifest handling application to install the preferred applications. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein the authorization comprises a userinterface on the UE that prompts “yes” or “no” when asked if the customconfiguration manifest handling application is authorized to install thepreferred applications.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein theauthentication credentials comprises at least one of a password, a PIN,and a pattern to unlock the UE.
 11. A user equipment (UE), comprising:at least one processor; a non-transitory memory; a custom configurationmanifest handling application stored in the non-transitory memory that,when executed by the processor: pulls down a custom configurationmanifest during device activation, where the custom configurationmanifest is pulled down from a custom configuration manifest server, andconfigures the UE based on the custom configuration manifest; and alease enforcement application stored in the non-transitory memory that,when executed by the processor: monitors a lease satisfaction status bychecking the custom configuration manifest server, determines a leasenon-compliance based on monitoring the lease satisfaction status bychecking the custom configuration manifest server, and restrictsfunctionality of the UE in response to the determination of leasenon-compliance.
 12. The UE of claim 11, wherein the custom configurationmanifest remains installed on the UE after the UE is activated.
 13. TheUE of claim 12, wherein the custom configuration manifest cannot beremoved or deleted from the UE.
 14. The UE of claim 11, wherein thelease enforcement application remains installed on the UE after the UEis activated.
 15. The UE of claim 11, wherein the lease satisfactionstatus is determined by monitoring whether a communication serviceprovider has been paid according to a chosen payment schedule asdictated by terms of a lease, whether an amount of data has been usedthat may be limited by the terms of the lease, whether an amount of textmessages has been sent or received that may be limited by the terms ofthe lease, and whether phone calls have been made or received for anamount of minutes that may be limited by the terms of the lease.
 16. TheUE of claim 11, wherein restricting functionality of the UE comprises atleast one of locking a screen of the UE, sending a message indicatingthat a lease has not been complied with, sending a user interface to theUE that allows for an overdue payment to be paid and the lease to becontinued, and changing a password to deny access to the UE.
 17. The UEof claim 11, wherein the lease enforcement application restrictsfunctionality of the UE by sending a user interface to the UE, andwherein the user interface comprises a screen that restricts access tosome functions of the UE.
 18. The UE of claim 17, wherein access togeneral voice call service, access to email service, access to acontacts list, access to a browser application, access to acommunication application, access to a media player application, andaccess to a camera application are blocked by the user interface. 19.The UE of claim 18, wherein the user interface allows for an overduepayment to be paid and the lease to be continued.
 20. The UE of claim19, wherein the user interface allows a call to be placed to a wirelesscommunication service provider to pay the overdue payment.